The Expert Panel on Influenza and Personal Protective Respiratory Equipment Donald Low, Chair (FCAHS) Karen Bartlett The Hon. Justice Jean-Louis Baudouin (FRSC) Anne-Marie Bourgault Lisa Brosseau Penny Ericson Michael Gardam Robert Janssen Allison McGeer Linda O'Brien- Pallas (FCAHS) Grant Stiver Susan Tamblyn Raymond Tellier Microbiologist-in-Chief, Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University Health Network and Medical Director, Ontario Public Health Laboratory, and Professor, University of Toronto Associate Professor, School of Environmental Health, University of British Columbia Quebec Court of Appeal, (Montréal, QC) Professeur titulaire de clinique, Département de microbiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal Associate Professor, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota (U.S.) Dean and Professor Emertia, Faculty of Nursing, University of New Brunswick Director, Infection Prevention and Control & Medical Director, Tuberculosis Clinic, University Health Network (Toronto, ON) Senior Policy Analyst, Prevention Policy & Regulation Review Department, Policy & Research Division, WorkSafeBC Microbiologist, Infectious Disease Consultant, Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto, ON) Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto Professor, Assistant Head Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia Public Health Consultant & former Medical Officer of Health (Stratford, Ontario) Microbiologist & Senior Associate Scientist, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children & Associate Professor, University of Toronto Donald Low, FCAHS, Chair Microbiologist-in-Chief, Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University Health Network and Medical Director, Ontario Public Health Laboratory, and Professor, University of Toronto Donald Low is Microbiologist-in-Chief of the Department of Microbiology at the Toronto Medical Laboratories and Mount Sinai Hospital. He is a Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and the Department of Medicine. Dr. Low is currently Head of the Division of Microbiology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. Dr. Low's research interests are in the study of the epidemiology and the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in community and hospital pathogens, as well as the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of streptococcal diseases. His group is recognized internationally for their Canadian population-based surveillance programs for the study of antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases.
Dr. Low completed his undergraduate and postgraduate training in medicine and infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba and his training in medical microbiology at the University of Toronto. A recognized authority in microbiology and infectious diseases, he has published more than 170 papers in peer-reviewed journals and is a reviewer for various organizations. He is also an Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases, a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Karen H. Bartlett Associate Professor, School of Environmental Health, University of British Columbia Karen H. Bartlett is an Associate Professor in the School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene at the University of British Columbia. As a microbiologist whose research interests include work place and community exposures to bioaersols, Dr. Bartlett s current research projects include: defining the environmental niche of Cryptococcus gattii, the emergent causative organism of cryptococcosis on Vancouver Island, British Columbia; worker exposure and control of bioaerosols in composting facilities; antigen exposure and respiratory symptoms in occupants of First Nations housing; evaluation of indoor air quality in sustainable (green) office buildings; efficacy of slow sand filtration for individual water purification units in Nicaragua, and contribution of biofilms to pathogen loading in agricultural water sources. Dr. Bartlett holds a Masters of Science in Occupational Hygiene, a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of British Columbia and completed her post doctoral fellowship in Inhalation Toxicology at the University of Iowa. Dr. Bartlett is co-author of a report funded by the Change Foundation, Protecting the Faces of Healthcare Workers, a review of respiratory protection arising from the SARS outbreak in Ontario. The Honourable Justice Jean-Louis Baudouin, FRSC Quebec Court of Appeal Biographical Sketches as of December 2007 Jean-Louis Baudouin is the Honourable Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal in Montréal, Quebec. Judge Baudouin holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College Stanislas in Montréal, a Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University Law School and a Ph.D. in Law from the Faculty of Law in Paris. He also holds a diploma of Superior Studies in Comparative Law from the International Faculty of Comparative Law, Madrid and Strasbourg (1962). Before his appointment to the Quebec Court of Appeal on May 2nd, 1989, Judge Baudouin had a long career as a law professor (1962-1989). Judge Baudouin is currently president of the Quebec Section of the Association Henri Capitant, International Vice President of the Institut des droits des pays d'expression française and Associate Professor at the University of Montreal Law School. He is a member of the Queen's Counsel (1978) and an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1979). Judge Baudouin has received numerous honors including: the Henri Capitant medal (1974, 1986, 2004), the first prize of the Law Reform Commission of Canada (1984), the Quebec Bar medal (1988), the Yves Pélicier Prize from the International Academy of Mental Health (2001), the medal of the 125th anniversary of the University of Montreal (2004) and the Ramon John Hnatyshyn medal (2005).
Lisa M. Brosseau Associate Professor, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Lisa Brosseau is Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences for the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Brosseau holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences from Wellesley College as well as a Masters of Science and Doctorate of Science in Environmental Health Sciences, Industrial Hygiene from Harvard University. Dr. Brosseau currently serves on the editorial review board of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene and is a peer reviewer for numerous other occupational health and safety journals. She has served as a member of the ACGIH Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances Committee (1995-2006) and also as Chair of the Committee (1998-2004). Dr. Brosseau has participated on Institute of Medicine and National Academies of Sciences committees in the areas of respiratory and personal protection. Dr. Brosseau has conducted research and published in the areas of respiratory protection, aerosol exposures and health and safety interventions in small businesses. She was the recipient of the American Industrial Hygiene Association s Alice Hamilton Award in 2006 and the ACGIH Meritorious Achievement Award in 2007. Penny Ericson Dean and Professor Emertia, Faculty of Nursing, University of New Brunswick Penny Ericson is Emeritus Dean of Nursing and Emeritus Professor of the Faculty of Nursing of the University of New Brunswick. In the 24 years of her nursing career, Mrs. Ericson has concentrated in the areas of education, administration, and women s health issue with a particular focus on gerontological nursing care and issues of abuse. Mrs. Ericson is well known and respected across Canada in both professional and academic communities. She has held executive positions in national professional associations and has an impressive record of service provincially, locally, and within the University of New Brunswick. Under her leadership, the Faculty of Nursing at the University of New Brunswick became a model for the rest of Canada as it responded to the 1989 decision by the Nurses Association of New Brunswick to make the baccalaureate degree the minimum requirement for entry to nursing practice. Mrs. Ericson also oversaw the establishment of a master's degree program in nursing and the introduction of international exchange programs for faculty and students. Michael Gardam Director, Infection Prevention and Control & Medical Director, Tuberculosis Clinic University Health Network, Toronto, ON Biographical Sketches as of December 2007 Michael Gardam is Director of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit and Medical Director of the Tuberculosis Clinic at the University Health Network. He is also Assistant Professor of Medicine and Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto. Dr. Gardam completed his undergraduate degree, Master s degree, and medical school training at McGill University and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Infectious Diseases in 1998. In 2003, he completed a second Master s degree in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Gardam has acted as a consultant on infection control issues such as SARS, tuberculosis, and C. difficile, at the provincial, national and international level. Within Ontario, he has helped a number of hospitals control outbreaks and develop their infection control programs. Dr. Gardam s research interests include the molecular and clinical epidemiology of hospital acquired infections and tuberculosis, as well as health policy and program evaluation. Robert Janssen Senior Policy Analyst, Prevention Policy & Regulation Review Department, Policy & Research Division, WorkSafeBC, Richmond, BC Robert Janssen is a Senior Policy Analyst in the Policy and Research Division with WorkSafeBC, providing policy and regulation advice to the Board regarding occupational health and safety issues. Mr. Janssen has 28 years of experience in occupational health & safety as it applies to most of British Columbia s industries from pulp & paper mills to aluminum smelters to healthcare facilities. He has co-investigated several epidemiological studies with the University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Cancer Agency and coauthored a number of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles. Mr. Janssen has served as a technical advisor to the Canadian Standards Association Z94.4 Standard covering respiratory protection. With respect to infectious diseases within the realm of occupational exposures for healthcare, he was a member of a multi-disciplinary team part of the British Columbia SARS Scientific Committee - co-authoring the 2004 Ontario Change Foundation study Protecting the Faces of Health Care Workers based on his expertise in the fields of aerosol physics and respiratory protection. His latest work involves proposed amendments for sections of WorkSafeBC s Occupational Health & Safety Regulation regarding infectious agents and infectious materials and research on the transmission of infectious agents with consideration for respiratory protection. Mr. Janssen holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours Biosciences) and a Master of Science (Biosciences Physiology) from the University of British Columbia and is a Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH). He is a member of the Canadian Standards Association, American Industrial Hygiene Association, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, and the International Society for Respiratory Protection. Allison J. McGeer Microbiologist, Infectious Disease Consultant, Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Allison J. McGeer is Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Medicine and Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto, and the Director of Infection Control at the Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. McGeer holds an undergraduate and master's degree in biochemistry as well as a medical degree from the University of Toronto and has trained in hospital epidemiology at the Yale-New Haven Hospital. Her research interests include infection prevention in hospitals and nursing homes, and the epidemiology of serious bacterial and viral diseases. Dr. McGeer currently serves on Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization and on the infection control subcommittee of the Ontario Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee, and is a member of several local, provincial and national pandemic influenza committees. She is an expert reviewer for many research funding agencies including the Canadian Institute of Health Research and US National Institutes of Health, and has served on the editorial boards of several journals, including the Canadian Medical Association Journal, and Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
Linda O Brien-Pallas, FCAHS Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto Linda O Brien-Pallas is a Professor in the Faculties of Nursing and Medicine at the University of Toronto and Director, Co-Founder and Co-Principal Investigator of the Nursing Health Services Research Unit at the University of Toronto. Dr. O Brien-Pallas is also the inaugural Canadian Health Services Research Foundation/Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Nursing Health Human Resources. She has provided leadership to various boards and committees, including the Canadian Nurses Association, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care s Nursing Task Force (1998-99). Dr. O Brien-Pallas was an invited member of the Canadian Nursing Advisory Committee (2001-2003), and is a co-founder of the Dorothy M. Wylie Nursing Leadership Institute. She was an invited speaker to the Romanow Commission and is frequently called upon by the World Health Organization and the International Council of Nurses to provide high level consultation. Dr. O Brien- Pallas has received numerous awards including: the Canadian Nurses Association s prestigious Jeanne Mance Award (2007) and the RNAO s Honorary Life Membership Award (2004). Dr. O Brien-Pallas has authored or co-authored over 300 publications in national and international journals and textbooks, completed nearly 85 research projects, and has made presentations and appearances on almost every continent. Grant Stiver Professor, Assistant Head Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia Grant Stiver is Professor and Assistant Head of the Division of Infectious Disease at the University of British Columbia. Prior to his current position, Dr. Stiver was Acting Head of the Section of Infectious Diseases and a Professor of Medicine and Medical Microbiology at the University of Manitoba where he earned his M.D. Dr. Stiver has been a pioneer of innovative management of infectious disease, including the practice of home self-administration of intravenous antibiotics. He has participated in numerous clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of antibacterial drugs and has an active clinical practice. Susan Tamblyn Public Health Consultant & former Medical Officer of Health, Stratford, ON Susan Tamblyn is a Community Medicine specialist and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Western Ontario. She is the former Medical Officer of Health for the Perth District Health Unit in Southwestern Ontario, a position she held for 30 years. Dr. Tamblyn has a long-standing interest in immunization and communicable diseases and has been involved in influenza pandemic planning for over two decades. During her career she served on many boards and advisory committees at provincial, national and international levels, including four years as chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and three years as chair of the Ontario Advisory Committee on Communicable Disease. Since her retirement in 2004, Dr. Tamblyn has remained involved with public health work. In 2005-06, she chaired the Local Public Health Capacity Review Committee, which made recommendations to strengthen Ontario s public health unit system. She is co-chair of the Ontario Pandemic Influenza Health Steering Committee and the Antiviral Working Group for the National Pandemic Influenza Committee, and consults on pandemic planning for all levels of government.
Raymond Tellier Microbiologist & Senior Associate Scientist, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children & Associate Professor, University of Toronto Dr. Tellier is a Staff Microbiologist and Director of Molecular Microbiology of the Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children. He also holds the positions of Senior Associate Scientist of the Research Institute at the Hospital for Sick Children and Associate Professor of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Tellier completed his undergraduate training in Physics (B.Sc.) at the Université de Montréal followed by post-graduate training in Mathematics at McGill University (M.Sc.) and Microbiology at Sherbrooke University. Dr. Tellier s medical training was completed at Sherbrooke University and was followed by residency in Medical Microbiology at the University of Toronto (FRCPC Medical Microbiology, CSPQ Microbiologie et Infectiologie). Dr. Tellier carried out his post doctoral research at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA (Hepatitis Viruses Section).